Anchor slot channel structure



Aug. 11-, 1959 G, H s N 2,898,758

ANCHOR SLOT CHANNEL STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 H. G. HENRICKSON 2,898,758 ANCHOR SLOT CHANNEL STRUCTURE Aug. 11, 1959 Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-sheaf 2 ANCHOR SLOT CHANNEL STRUCTURE Henry G. Henrickson, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Gateway Engineering Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 28, 1955, Serial No. 537,100

Claims. (Cl. 72-101) The present invention relates to improvements in metallic channels of the general class which are embedded in the facing side of a concrete column or Wall to provide dovetail or other forms of slots therein for receiving, at spaced points therealong, a series of anchor plates adapted to interlock with the walls of metallic channels and with the bonding mortar of a brick or stone wall erected as a siding or facing for the cement structure; the said anchor plates serving to hold the brick or stone facing firmly against the cement structure.

It is customary, preliminary to pouring concrete into a building form, to nail metallic channel members to inner faces of the form; the open face of the channel being positioned against said form. This practice gives rise to considerable difficulty in that the concrete seeps into the channel member at locations where the channel member fails to fit flat against the wood form. Considerable eifort has been made to overcome this problem, but none of the proposed solutions have been satisfactory, since they have involved filling the channel member with a removable filler such as felted material, crushed paper, or strands of jute material which has been twisted into rope form. These materials frequently fail to close the mouth of the metal channel. Consequently any seepage of concrete grout into the metallic channel impregnates the filler material and upon drying provides a solid mass which is diificult to remove when it is time to insert the anchor plates in position within the channel. This is also true when the fillers become saturated with snow or ice in cold weather. The removal of such fillers at the locations where the anchor plates are to be inserted is a timeconsuming operation and is therefore costly.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above noted limitations that are attendant upon the construction and use of present-day filler for anchor slot channels and, toward this end, it contemplates the provision of a novel form of anchor slot channel structure in which provision is made for completely sealing the mouth or open side of the channel against inward seepage of concrete grout and which at the same time aifords adequate internal reinforcement for the side walls of the channel so that external pressure exerted by the concrete material will not distort the side walls of the channel and thereby decrease the width of the slot or channel opening into which the locking plates are inserted.

To attain these ends, briefly the invention contemplates the provision, first of a novel form of filler material for the anchor slot channel structure, this material possessing both rigidity and resistance to chemical wetting for purposes which will be made clear presently, and secondly, of a novel means for sealing the longitudinal edges of the channel structure to the surface of the wood form to which the structure is secured so as to exclude the entrance of wet concrete into the channel structure or into any space between the channel structure and the building form at all points along its length.

According to the present invention, the filler material employed consists of a fibrous paper material which has 2,898,758 Patented Aug. 11, 1959 ice been chemically treated so as to render it impervious to water and which is crimped in such a manner as to afford, within the channel structure, a cellular arrangement wherein the cell walls extend transversely of the channel and present their side edges to the side walls of the channel and thus offer a considerable degree of resistance to compressional forces and are. extremely effective in preventing the weight of the wet concrete from bending the side walls of the channel toward each other, thereby preserving the full original width of the channel opening. In addition to the crimped paper filler material, the open side of the metallic channel is closed and sealed against ingress of the wet concrete or other foreign matter by means of a Water resistant paper cover strip. The free edges of the side walls of the channel are crimped over the longitudinal edges of the cover strip by a reverse bend rolling operation so that the normally open side of the channel is completely closed to provide a substantially liquid-tight tubular structure which will exclude the entrance of the wet concrete at all points along its length. Since the plane of the cover strip is approximately normal to the plane of the two sides of the anchor slot channel, the cover strip also oifers a considerable degree of resistance to compressional forces and thus it assists the enclosed cn'mped filler strip in its reinforcing action whereby the side walls of the channel are held against inward distortion under the presstue of the surrounding poured concrete.

Although the paper cover strip and the crimped or folded paper strip are both highly resistant to collapse under applied compressional forces, each is subject to easy rupture for the purposes of permitting forceable insertion ofan anchor plate at any desired region along the channel, and thus such anchor plates may readily be installed in the channel wherever desired, without the necessity of clearing a space for reception of the anchor plate.

The sealing means employed for the longitudinal edges of the channel structure, according to the present invention, assumes the form of a pair of longitudinally extending tapered lips which may existindependently of the paper cover strip but which preferably are formed as integral flange-like extensions of the latter. Each lip is of narrow width and each has one longitudinal edge eifectively sealed within the reverse bend which exists along the tfirec edges of the channel by means of which the paper cover strip is held in position. The free edge of each sealing lip extends generally outwardly away from the mouth of the channel opening and provides an elongated flexible sealing strip which is coextensive with the channel and which is adapted to be brought into sealing engagement with the inner face of the wood form to which the channel is applied so as to prevent the flow of concrete grout inwardly toward the mouth of the channel. The Width of the sealing lip thus provided is not great but it is sufliciently wide that it will follow any abnormal irregularity in the surface of the wood form, as for example where the form is warped so that it no longer presents a plane surface or where small protuberances such as knots, or the like may appear in the board. Thus, when the channel is nailed to the inner face of the wood form in the usual manner, flexible paper lips along each free edge of the channel opening will bear against the face of the form and flex to accommodate the surface of the form whether the same be true or of irregular configuration.

The flexible paper sealing lips just described, when assembled in the completed channel structure, diverge laterally and outwardly so that whenv the metallic channel is secured against the back of the form, as by nailing, the extreme edges of the lips will be presented on an outward bias to the surface of the form so that the applied pressure existing by virtue of the tendency for the wet concrete to flow between the mouth of the channel and the surface of the wood form will accentuate the sealing action and more firmly press the sealing lips into sealing engagement with the wood surface.

The provision of a composite anchor slot channel construction of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention, numerous other objects and advantages are present both from a manufacturing standpoint and from the standpoint of actual use of the device. For example, the improved dovetail anchor receiving channel structure readily lends itself to simple yet fully automatic manufacturing operations where the anchor slot channels are of uniform characteristics throughout so that the various lengths may be cut oif at any desired point and thus sub-divided so that each divided length is useful as a unit without destroying any of the advantages specifically outlined above.

An additional advantage of the improved dovetail anchor channel resides in the fact that the free edges of the channel are rolled inwardly upon the side edges of the cover strip and thereby eliminate sharp edges thereof and consequently remove the likelihood of injury to the workmen.

With these and other objects and advantages in view which will become more readily apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification several embodiments of the invention have been shown.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a construction column showing a brick facing operatively applied to the column by means of the improved anchor slot channel device comprising the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially centrally through a filled concrete construction form showing the improved anchor slot channel structure operatively applied to an irregular inside surface of the form.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substanitally along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4a is an enlarged detail sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. 4 and, illustrating on a larger scale the novel form of sealing means employed in connection with the invention.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing a length of a preferred form of the present anchor slot channel structure. In this view certain portions have been broken away to more clearly show the nature of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of the channel structure.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of an anchor plate capable of being employed in connection with the present invention for holding a brick facing in position against the concrete structure with which the anchor slot channel is associated; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the horizontal plane indicated by the line 88 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to Fig. 5 wherein a fragmentary length of one preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated, the anchor slot channel structure includes an an- !chor slot channel or shell 10 having a bottom wall 11 and outstanding side walls 12 and 13 which converge slightly toward each other as is customary in connection with such channels to provide a generally dovetail configuration in cross section. It will be understood that the metallic channel is adapted to be embedded in the facing side of a vertical concrete wall, column, or other structure for the purpose of retaining therein the inserted ends of a plurality of anchor plates such as the plate shown at 14 in Fig. 8, and by means of which a brick or stone facing may be held in position against the concrete structure.

According to the present invention the metallic channel member 10 has disposed therein a filler material consisting of a length or strip 15 of paper material which is crimped or folded at spaced locations along its length in generally sinuous fashion to provide a series of inclined partitions 16 which are connected together at their bottoms by intervening or interconnecting trough portions 17 which are substantially flush with the bottom wall 11 of the channel. The strip 15 from which the filler material is formed is of uniform width throughout, this width being substantially equal to the width of the bottom wall 11 of the channel 10 so that the connecting portions 17 may fit coextensively across the bottom wall. However, since the side walls 12 and 13 converge toward each other in the outer regions of the channel, the partitions 16 become progressively crowded in the outer regions of the metallic channel and, in the installation process whereby the filler material is progressively fitted within the channel, the side edges 18 of the adjacent connected partitions 16 trail the crest portions 19. The edges 18 therefore become folded over or offset (Fig. 6) from the plane of the respective partitions 16 with which they are associated and closely hug the respective side walls 12 and 13 against which they hear.

The open side of the channel member 10 is adapted to be completely closed and sealed against the ingress of the freshly poured wet concrete by means of a closure member 22 which may consist of an elongated strip of paper material of the same composition as the strip 15 which may be ordinary building paper. The longitudinal edge portions 23 of the closure strip are folded upon the outer face of the strip and these folded edge portions are secured to the outer edges of the side walls 12 and 13 of the channel member by a rolling or beading operation wherein the said edges of the channel are turned laterally outwardly as at 25 to form a seat for the folded edges of the strip 22 and are then beaded inwardly as at 26 over the said folded edges of the strip to firmly clamp the strip in position and form an elfective seal with the same thus providing a tubular structure which will prevent the entrance of wet concrete into any part of the tubular structure. Also the folded edge portions are preferably bent outwardly as indicated at 24 (Figs. 3, 4, 4a and 5), to provide a pair of spaced apart grout sealing lips 24, the function of which will be presently described.

In Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive the use of the anchor channel shown in Fig. 5 in connection with an actual building construction has been portrayed, the construction selected for illustrative purposes being in the form of a vertical concrete column 30 (Fig. 1) to which a brick facing or siding designated in its entirety at 31 is adapted to be attached. In Figs. 3 and 4 the method of embedding the composite channel structure 10 in the facing side 32 of the column 30 is shown. The usual four sided wooden form including front and rear form boards 33, 33a and side boards (not shown) are suitably nailed or otherwise secured together to provide the usual tubular form structure into which the concrete material is adapted to be poured. The composite anchor channel structure is cut to the exact length required for the installation of the brick facing 31 and it is then fastened to the inside face of the front form boards 33. For fastening purposes a series of fastening nails 37 may be driven through the bottom wall 11 and into the boards 33 at spaced points along the metallic channel. If desired, suitable nail open- 5. ings (not shown) may be provided in the bottom wall 11 of the channel at established intervals.

For the purpose of illustrating the function of the grout seal lips 24 the channel member is shown in Fig. 2 as diverging slightly from the form board 33. However, the said sealing lips 24 are sufficiently flexible to adjust themselves to any irregular surface of the building form. In Fig. 3 (which is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2) the open mouth of the channel member 10 is shown as being in close proximity to the inner face of one of the form boards 33 so that the sealing lips 24 are compressed and flattened into substantially the same plane. In Fig. 4 (which is a section on the 'line 4-4 of Fig. 2) the lips 24 are somewhat extended inasmuch as the form board 33 presents an inner surface which is spaced from the open mouth of the channel member 10. Despite this deviation along the form, the sealing lips 24 bridge the distance between the free longitudinal edges of the channel member 10 and the surface against which they are intended to bear. 7 7

It is to be noted that, in any instance, Whether the fit between any portion of the channel 10 and the inner surface of the construction form be tight or loose, the inclination of the flexible lips 24 with respect to the plane of the surface against which they are sealed is such that any tendency for the wet concrete material to enter the space existing between the lips 24 at the mouth of the channel member is resisted by a flattening down or wedging action on the part of the sealing lips which are pressed firmly into engagement with the inner faces of the form boards to effect a seal the etficiency of which is a function of the applied pressure of the wet cement.

After the channel member is secured to the column form boards 33 may be erected and the concrete or other material of the column 34) poured into the hollow form in the usual manner of erection. The cementitious con crete material is allowed to harden and thereafter the wooden form is removed. Because of the dovetail configuration of the anchor slot channel, when the front form boards v3. are pulled away from the hardened concrete column 30 the anchor channel structure will be left in position as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4 within the concrete so as to present a forwardly facing but closed slot into which there may be inserted the various anchor plates 14 in a manner that will be described presently.

It is to be observed that since the partition walls 16 of the filler strip extend approximately normal to the dovetail side walls 12 and 13 of the channel member 10, they offer a considerable degree of resistance to compressional forces which otherwise would tend to collapse the side walls inwardly toward each other and decrease the effective size of the slot opening. The closure strip 22 likewise extends substantially normal to the side walls 12 and 13 and thus this strip also lends a considerable degree of reinforcement to the side walls during concrete pouring and hardening operations.

The brick or other siding or facing 31 may be progressively laid along the front face of the column 30 in the usual manner of brick laying which is, of course, from the bottom of the structure upwardly. As shown in Fig. 1 the individual bricks 40 are arranged in horizontal layers, the bricks of adjacent layers being staggered, and with the interposition of mortar bonding material 41 between the various layers and between the ends of the bricks of each layer. After the first few layers of brick have been set into position one of the anchor plates 14 may then be inserted into the anchor slot channel member 10. Various forms of anchor plates 14 are available for use with the channel member 10 and the plate illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 consists of a flat sheet metal member having a dovetail securing tongue 43 at one end and having an outwardly struck or offset anchoring tongue 44 at its other end. The plan configuration of the dovetail tongue 43 is approximately the same as the cross-sectional configuration of the dove- 6. tail channel in the member 10 so that when the tongue 43 is trust through the closure strip 22 of the channel structure (Fig. 1) it compresses and/ or ruptures a localized area of the filler strip 15, whereby the said tongue 43 may be turned within the channel so as to extend normal to the side walls 12 and 13 thereof, the tongue 43 is locked in position within the channel member against outward movement.

After the anchor plate 14 has been turned to its transverse position as set forth above, the projecting portion thereof is caused to rest flush with the upper surface of one of the bricks 40 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 with the anchoring tongue 44 extending upwardly so that when the next spread of the bonding mortar is made upon the uppermost layer of bricks the tongue will become submerged within the mortar and thus embedded therein when the mortar has hardened. The above described pattern of operation is continued as the brick facing is built up to the desired height and the anchor plates may be inserted within the anchor slot channel member at any desired stage in the erection of the facing, such insertion being shown herein purely for illustrative purposes as being made after the erection of each group of three successive brick layers. The extent of projection of the various anchor plates 14 forwardly from the concrete structure is somewhat less than the width of the individual bricks 40 so that the anchor plates remain concealed within the finished facing and serve to tie the brick facing to the concrete structure against dislodgment therefrom.

In the construction of the anchor slot channel of the present invention the use of various types or grades of paper or paperboard material is contemplated. However, for economy of manufacture the use of ordinary building paper is preferred on account of the low cost and availability of this material and because, with the particular cellular configuration imparted to the filler strip 15, this material affords adequate resistance to compressional forces to enable the same to maintain the side walls 12 and 13 of the channel member against inward flexing under pressure of the wet concrete.

The modified construction shown in Fig. 6 is the same as the construction of Fig. 5 except that the grout sealing tongues 24, 24 are omitted. Therefore, for the sake of brevity, the dovetail channel structure is designated by the same reference numerals. The closure strip in this Figure is designated 22a. It is slightly different from the strip shown in Fig. 5 in that its longitudinal edges, designated 24a, 24a, are not folded over as indicated in Fig. 5. However, these non-folded edges are securely clamped between the flanges 25 and 26 of the channel 10 substantially as shown in the previously described embodiment.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Only insofar as the invention has been particularly pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

I claim:

1. An anchor slot channel structure comprising a bottom wall and forwardly extending side walls defining an elongated channel, the free edges of said side walls being turned laterally outwardly in opposite directions and reversed upon themselves to provide a pair of grooves, a readily frangible closure strip sealingly clamped in said grooves and closing the open side of the channel along the length thereof, and means defining flexible sealing lips projecting out of said grooves beyond a plane common to the outer side edges defining the grooves, said lips extending along the length of the side walls for sealing engagement with an inner face of a construction form to which the channel structure is applied.

2. An anchor slot channel structure according to claim 1 wherein said sealing lips constitute folded marginal portions of said closure strip.

3. An anchor slot channel structure'according to claim 1 wherein a combined filler and reinforcing strip is fitted into said channel, the reinforcing strip being a flat paper strip formed with reverse folds spaced apart and defining a series of inclined partitions extending from side to side of the channel and to the closure strip, said reinforcing strip providing reinforcements for the said side walls and for the closure strip.

4. An anchor slot channel structure comprising, in combination, an elongated sheet metal member of channel-shape cross-section provided with a bottom wall and forwardly extending side walls, a closure strip of readily frangible material extending across the open side of said member and along the length thereof with the longitudinal edges of the strip secured to the free longitudinal edges of said side walls, said strip being adapted to be pierced by anchor devices inserted into said member for cooperative locking engagement therewith, and a combined filler and reinforcing strip disposed within said member and extending longitudinally from end-to-end thereof and engaging the bottom wall and side Walls of the mem-. her, said reinforcing strip comprising a flat strip of paper material formed with reverse folds spaced apart to provide a series of inclined partitions which seal the opposite ends of the member and extend to the closure strip along the side walls,'said reinforcing strip providing reinforcement for the member throughout its length, but is readily crushable at localized areas by the insertion of said anchor throughsaid closure strip.

' 5. An anchor slot channel structure as defined in claim 4 whereinthe elongated sheet metal member is a' chan- -nel of dovetail configuration in cross-section having said side Walls inclined inwardly and forwardly from said bottom Wall and wherein the Width of the reinforcing strip conforms to the variable width between the side walls with the planes of said partitions extending transversely of the side walls and the marginal side edge portions of said partitions being folded over to conform to the incline of said side walls of the member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,621,877 FitzGerald Mar. 22, 1927 1,892,311 Macdonald Dec. 27, 1932 2,007,689 Merrill July 9, 1935 2,075,262 Boettner Mar. 30, 1937 2,220,596 Bernhardt Nov. 5, 1940 2,265,443 McGuire Dec. 9, 1941 2,511,620 Clements June 13, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 37,280 Norway of 1923 

